Hunting

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Hunting Act 2004 upon those whose livelihoods are (a) directly and (b) indirectly dependent on hunting; and if she will review the commencement date for the hunting ban to take account of the Minister for Rural Affairs' expressed concerns about the potential impact of implementation in February 2005.

Alun Michael: The Government do not expect that significant numbers of people will find themselves out of work as a result of the Act and many will be able to divert into other activities. Lord Burns estimated that around 700 jobs were directly dependent on hunting and that, overall, between 6,000 and 8,000 jobs could be affected by a ban, although evidence given to the Portcullis House hearings suggested that this may be an overstatement. The Government has not made any further assessment of the economic impact of the Act.
	The Government believes that a longer implementation time would have helped businesses and individuals to prepare for the ban. Its proposal to defer commencement until July 2006 was, regrettably and perversely, rejected by the House of Lords.

Sugar

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the European Commission about the development of an action plan for ACP sugar producers as envisaged in the EC Communication on sugar published in July.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has stressed the importance of the early delivery of a credible and effective action plan to provide appropriate adjustment aid for existing preferential sugar suppliers in the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries throughout discussion of the European Commission's Communication on sugar reform. As already reported to the House, she welcomed the commitment given by the Commission at the November meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to bring forward a draft by the end of the year.

Darfur

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to ensure the safety of British aid workers in the Darfur region.

Hilary Benn: Humanitarian agencies in Darfur are operating in a very difficult and insecure environment. DFID deplores the recent upsurge in violence in Darfur which is worsening the insecurity in certain parts.
	Along with the UN and others, the UK Government continues to press both the Government of Sudan and the rebels to stop the fighting and implement the Abuja humanitarian and security protocols, to allow unfettered and secure access throughout Darfur.
	The UK has provided significant support to UN agencies and NGOs for security and communications to help agencies operate safely. DFID has recently provided further funding of £820,000 to the United Nations Security Co-Ordinator (UNSECOORD) to ensure that their full funding needs are met. This will allow it to expand its capacity and presence in Darfur, supporting it's security co-ordination and management of UN operations as well as to assist non-governmental-organisations. DFID has also provided £1.5 million to the UN's 'Fast IT and Telecommunications Emergency and Support Team' (FITTEST) to enhance security communications in North Sudan (including Darfur). This will help the UN operations to become 'Minimum Operational Security Standard' (MOSS) compliant. More broadly, the UK provides on-going support to 'Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief' (Red R) for security training for NGO staff globally. This year it has included a Security and Staff Safety Management training course in Nyala (South Darfur).
	The African Union mission has a key role to play in improving the security situation on the ground. They are specifically mandated to "contribute to a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian relief". DFID is not looking at military protection for the aid convoys beyond this. NGOs and the UN consider that they would be more at risk of being targeted if they travelled under armed escort. We are keeping this situation under review.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID does not hold these costs centrally. However, in the last seven years we are aware of spending on training as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year £ million 
		
		
			 2003–04 4.4 
			 2002–03 2 
			 2001–02 1.4 
			 2000–01 1 
			 1999–2000 .85 
			 1998–99 .58 
			 1997–98 .88 
		
	
	DFID is committed to ensuring staff have the right skills and expertise to meet our commitment to the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals.
	We manage numerous external training providers covering a range of subjects such as economics, working with ministers and Parliament, language training, leadership and management.
	A more definitive answer could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 1997–98 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID does not hold all the information centrally. However, in the last three financial years we are aware of the following money paid to training providers for courses that we have cancelled:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2004–05 12,750 
			 2003–04 13,750 
			 2002–03 18,430 
		
	
	DFID values its staff. We are committed to providing training and learning opportunities and developing staff to their full potential.
	A more definitive answer could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Road Safety Grants

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many grants for the promotion of road safety have been made by his Department under section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in each of the last seven years; and what the total cost has been.

David Jamieson: Grant given between 1997–98 and 2003–04 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of grants Cost of grants (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 6 312,755 
			 1998–99 2 281,250 
			 1999–2000 11 335,037 
			 2000–01 13 377,129 
			 2001–02 11 339,578 
			 2002–03 18 360,231 
			 2003–04 18 384,975 
			 Total 79 2,390,955 
		
	
	So far 20 grants have been given during 2004–05, totalling £522,669. Further applications are still being considered for this current financial year.

Civil Service Pensions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will allow members of the pre-October 2002 Civil Service Pension Scheme to remarry without losing their original pension entitlement; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: For clarification, members of the pre-October 2002 Civil Service Pension Scheme do not lose their pension on remarriage. However, the surviving spouses of deceased former members do have their widows'/widowers' pensions stopped on remarriage or cohabitation. I presume that it is these widows' and widowers' pensions to which the hon. Member's question relates.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth south (Mr. Hancock) on 13 October 2004, Official Report, column 317W.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her target time is in 2004–05 (a) to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) for the officials in her Office to reply to letters received directly from members of the public.

Richard Caborn: The Departments current target date for answering all correspondence is 18 working days.
	Information on the departmental handling of correspondence from Members of Parliament/Peers is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The 2003 annual report is available in the Library of the House.

Education Funding

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) average primary formula spending share per pupil and (b) average secondary formula spending share per pupil is in each local education authority in 2005–06, listed in descending order of secondary formula allocations.

David Miliband: In England, the formula for the primary and secondary sub-blocks comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil, which is the same across the country, plus a top-up for each pupil with additional educational needs, which is again the same across the country, plus top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers. Local education authorities with a greater proportion of pupils with additional educational needs or higher average earnings will receive a higher level of funding per pupil. The following table shows the average School Formula Spending Share for primary and secondary pupils, as announced on 2 December 2004 in the provisional Local Government Settlement for 2005–06. The figures are set out in descending order.
	
		
			  £ 
			 Primary  
		
		
			 Tower Hamlets 4,155 
			 City of London 3,991 
			 Hackney 3,820 
			 Isles of Scilly 3,804 
			 Islington 3,721 
			 Westminster 3,682 
			 Lambeth 3,661 
			 Camden 3,654 
			 Southwark 3,611 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,528 
			 Lewisham 3,448 
			 Greenwich 3,430 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,377 
			 Wandsworth 3,376 
			 Newham 3,321 
			 Brent 3,239 
			 Haringey 3,185 
			 Ealing 3,157 
			 Hounslow 3,114 
			 Slough 2,999 
			 Harrow 2,979 
			 Waltham Forest 2,974 
			 Barnet 2,927 
			 Enfield 2,882 
			 Hillingdon 2,880 
			 Merton 2,873 
			 Redbridge 2,852 
			 Manchester 2,845 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,836 
			 Birmingham 2,821 
			 Leicester 2,786 
			 Luton 2,778 
			 Reading 2,769 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,747 
			 Croydon 2,738 
			 Bradford 2,729 
			 Nottingham City 2,710 
			 Sandwell 2,705 
			 Sutton 2,701 
			 Blackburn 2,700 
			 Peterborough 2,700 
			 West Berkshire 2,676 
			 Liverpool 2,673 
			 Oldham 2,669 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,663 
			 Wolverhampton 2,658 
			 Knowsley 2,652 
			 Milton Keynes 2,644 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,638 
			 Rochdale 2,631 
			 Middlesbrough 2,626 
			 Surrey 2,622 
			 Southampton 2,618 
			 Walsall 2,613 
			 Isle of Wight Council 2,611 
			 Wokingham 2,607 
			 Thurrock 2,599 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,599 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,594 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,588 
			 Salford 2,587 
			 Coventry 2,585 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 2,582 
			 Bexley 2,579 
			 Halton 2,578 
			 Kirklees 2,577 
			 City of Bristol 2,576 
			 Bolton 2,572 
			 Oxfordshire 2,568 
			 Stoke on Trent 2,555 
			 Portsmouth 2,554 
			 Hertfordshire 2,546 
			 Herefordshire 2,537 
			 Havering 2,536 
			 Hartlepool 2,531 
			 Bromley 2,531 
			 Calderdale 2,528 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,528 
			 South Tyneside 2,527 
			 Doncaster 2,526 
			 Bedfordshire 2,524 
			 Derby 2,521 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,518 
			 Wiltshire 2,514 
			 Cornwall 2,513 
			 Tameside 2,510 
			 Sheffield 2,510 
			 Lincolnshire 2,510 
			 Cumbria 2,503 
			 North Yorkshire 2,499 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,497 
			 Devon 2,496 
			 Rutland 2,496 
			 Norfolk 2,495 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,495 
			 Northumberland 2,493 
			 Blackpool 2,493 
			 Durham 2,493 
			 Sunderland 2,490 
			 Rotherham 2,485 
			 Shropshire 2,484 
			 Leeds 2,483 
			 Gateshead 2,481 
			 The Wrekin 2,479 
			 Dudley 2,478 
			 Wirral 2,474 
			 Barnsley 2,472 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,469 
			 Darlington 2,467 
			 Southend 2,466 
			 Lancashire 2,464 
			 Northamptonshire 2,456 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,456 
			 St. Helens 2,451 
			 Essex 2,451 
			 Bury 2,449 
			 Wakefield 2,448 
			 East Sussex 2,447 
			 Kent 2,446 
			 Warwickshire 2,446 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,441 
			 Plymouth 2,439 
			 Suffolk 2,438 
			 Hampshire 2,438 
			 Swindon 2,434 
			 Somerset 2,433 
			 Gloucestershire 2,430 
			 Trafford 2,429 
			 West Sussex 2,429 
			 North Tyneside 2,428 
			 Torbay 2,428 
			 Wigan 2,424 
			 Medway 2,421 
			 North Somerset 2,418 
			 Sefton 2,411 
			 Cheshire 2,411 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,409 
			 Dorset 2,409 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,406 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,405 
			 Derbyshire 2,402 
			 Solihull 2,398 
			 Bournemouth 2,395 
			 Stockport 2,382 
			 Warrington 2,374 
			 Staffordshire 2,374 
			 Worcestershire 2,358 
			 Leicestershire 2,355 
			 York 2,346 
			 Poole 2,325 
			 Secondary  
			 Tower Hamlets 5,051 
			 City of London 4,860 
			 Hackney 4,770 
			 Southwark 4,706 
			 Lambeth 4,698 
			 Islington 4,695 
			 Westminster 4,500 
			 Lewisham 4,492 
			 Isles of Scilly 4,452 
			 Camden 4,449 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4,446 
			 Wandsworth 4,386 
			 Greenwich 4,352 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4,216 
			 Newham 4,026 
			 Brent 3,987 
			 Haringey 3,943 
			 Ealing 3,894 
			 Hounslow 3,815 
			 Waltham Forest 3,780 
			 Slough 3,736 
			 Merton 3,715 
			 Barnet 3,682 
			 Harrow 3,662 
			 Hillingdon 3,629 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3,619 
			 Enfield 3,601 
			 Croydon 3,600 
			 Manchester 3,589 
			 Reading 3,584 
			 Birmingham 3,534 
			 Sutton 3,527 
			 Luton 3,523 
			 Redbridge 3,515 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,510 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,479 
			 Nottingham City 3,441 
			 Bradford 3,405 
			 Sandwell 3,399 
			 Bracknell Forest 3,389 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 3,389 
			 Surrey 3,389 
			 Peterborough 3,384 
			 Liverpool 3,382 
			 Wolverhampton 3,374 
			 Milton Keynes 3,371 
			 West Berkshire 3,365 
			 Wokingham 3,365 
			 Bexley 3,353 
			 Thurrock 3,351 
			 Knowsley 3,344 
			 Oldham 3,343 
			 Rochdale 3,339 
			 Southampton 3,334 
			 Bromley 3,330 
			 Middlesbrough 3,328 
			 Havering 3,326 
			 City of Bristol 3,320 
			 Walsall 3,317 
			 Leicester 3,313 
			 Halton 3,300 
			 Salford 3,296 
			 Blackburn 3,287 
			 City of Kingston-upon-Hull 3,285 
			 Hertfordshire 3,285 
			 Portsmouth 3,285 
			 Buckinghamshire 3,284 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,273 
			 Coventry 3,260 
			 Stoke on Trent 3,256 
			 Isle of Wight Council 3,256 
			 South Tyneside 3,229 
			 Bolton 3,229 
			 Oxfordshire 3,228 
			 Kirklees 3,224 
			 Hartlepool 3,222 
			 Tameside 3,218 
			 Derby 3,217 
			 Sheffield 3,214 
			 Calderdale 3,206 
			 Dudley 3,200 
			 Blackpool 3,200 
			 Sunderland 3,194 
			 Brighton and Hove 3,190 
			 Bedfordshire 3,186 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3,183 
			 Wirral 3,183 
			 Gateshead 3,180 
			 Leeds 3,178 
			 Southend 3,176 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3,170 
			 Rotherham 3,168 
			 Doncaster 3,167 
			 Bury 3,166 
			 Barnsley 3,162 
			 St. Helens 3,150 
			 Trafford 3,150 
			 Wakefield 3,149 
			 Plymouth 3,144 
			 Wigan 3,144 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 3,142 
			 The Wrekin 3,142 
			 North Tyneside 3,134 
			 Darlington 3,133 
			 Durham 3,133 
			 Torbay 3,132 
			 Swindon 3,127 
			 Essex 3,127 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,122 
			 Medway 3,121 
			 Sefton 3,120 
			 Kent 3,112 
			 Hampshire 3,110 
			 Lancashire 3,108 
			 Northamptonshire 3,107 
			 West Sussex 3,105 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3,103 
			 Stockport 3,099 
			 Solihull 3,099 
			 North Somerset 3,098 
			 East Sussex 3,093 
			 Bournemouth 3,093 
			 Warrington 3,091 
			 North Lincolnshire 3,089 
			 Cornwall 3,083 
			 South Gloucestershire 3,080 
			 Warwickshire 3,074 
			 Cheshire 3,068 
			 Nottinghamshire 3,065 
			 Wiltshire 3,063 
			 Northumberland 3,062 
			 Gloucestershire 3,057 
			 Norfolk 3,050 
			 Cumbria 3,042 
			 Derbyshire 3,040 
			 Lincolnshire 3,038 
			 Suffolk 3,035 
			 Poole 3,032 
			 Devon 3,027 
			 York 3,025 
			 Staffordshire 3,021 
			 Worcestershire 3,012 
			 Herefordshire 3,007 
			 Somerset 3,004 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,001 
			 Shropshire 2,986 
			 Dorset 2,985 
			 North Yorkshire 2,978 
			 Leicestershire 2,974 
			 Rutland 2,974

Education, Youth and Culture Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the Education, Youth and Culture Council held on 15 and 16 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I attended the Education session of this Council. Peter Peacock, Minister for Education and Young People at the Scottish Executive, also attended and led on Youth issues. Lord McIntosh, Minister for Heritage and the Media attended the Culture Council. Colleagues at DCMS will write directly to my hon. Friend, with a short summary of what happened on their agenda items.
	During the Education session, Ministers discussed the Commission's proposals on the new Integrated Lifelong Learning Programme, and welcomed the commitment to simplify administration. The UK submitted a paper calling for SMART (Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timed) objectives, effective evaluation, a flexible approach to languages, a separate cross-cutting strand and a focus on disadvantaged groups.
	The Council 'adopted' the Presidency Report on Citizenship in Education, which calls on member states to develop citizenship curricula and to exchange best practice on citizenship education. This will now be transmitted to the Spring European Council.
	Conclusions on Vocational Education and Training were 'adopted' without comment. They call for better links between vocational training and academic education, to allow individuals to move more freely between the two.
	Will Hutton, member of the Lisbon mid-term review group, presented the Kok Report on preparations for the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy in March 2005. He reported slow progress towards achieving the Lisbon goals: only three member states had achieved 70 per cent. employment, 60 per cent. employment of older workers and 50 per cent. employment of women.
	There were three items under Any Other Business: Commission proposals for a Recommendation on Quality Assurance in Higher Education; a paper from Portugal about an initiative to encourage more sport in Higher Education, as part of the European year of Education through Sport; the European Parliament's "adoption without amendment" of the Council's Common Position on the Decision to establish Europass at Second Reading.
	In the afternoon session, the Council discussed the Commission's proposals for the "Youth in Action" Programme 2007–2013, and called for greater emphasis on helping those less advantaged. The majority supported the proposals to extend the age range from 13–30 years.
	Conclusions on the current Youth Programme 2000–06 were "adopted without Comment". They called for the Commission to refocus the remainder of the programme—e.g. to include more young people with fewer opportunities, simplify procedures, improve evaluation, increase publicity and consider including more third countries.
	Ministers "agreed two Council Resolutions" on priorities for the Youth Open Method of Co-ordination in the areas of Youth and Volunteering, and a better understanding of the issues affecting young people. The Commission presented its recent Communication evaluating the first two years of the Youth Open Method of Co-ordination.
	A copy of the Council Minutes will be placed in the Library in due course.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effect of the coming into force of the European Constitution on the operation of his Department, with reference to (a) changes in legislative competence, (b) the extension of qualified majority voting, (c) the increased legislative role of the European Parliament, (d) the cost of implementation of regulations, (e) the requirements of adherence to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and (f) the quantity of legislation originating in the EU institutions.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 29 November 2004, Official Report, columns 10–11W, by my hon. Friend the Minister for State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

GCSE Grades/Results

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of GCSE results reported in league tables for schools were GNVQ passes in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The 2003 Secondary School Performance Tables incorporated results in GCSEs, GCSE short courses, Full and Part 1 GNVQs. The following table shows the number of attempts and passes in GCSEs and GNVQs:
	
		GCSE and GNVQ attempts and passes by 15 year oldpupils in 2003
		
			  Attempts Passes (A*-C) Passes (D-G) 
		
		
			 GCSE 5,030,588 2,894,241 1,996,723 
			 Part 1 intermediate GNVQ 68,011 47,100 — 
			 Full intermediate GNVQ 44,130 33,361 — 
			 Part 1 Foundation GNVQ 16,654 — 8,913 
			 Full Foundation GNVQ 4,634 — 2,540 
		
	
	Note:
	Intermediate GNVQs are equivalent to grades A*-C at GCSE and foundation GNVQs are equivalent to grades D-G at GCSE.
	The contribution made by GNVQs to the percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving five or more grades A*-C nationally is shown in the following table.
	
		2002/03
		
			 Academic year Number/percentage 
		
		
			 Number of 15 year old pupils 622,122 
			 Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5+A*- C GCSE/GNVQ 52.9 
			 Percentage of 15 year old pupils achieving 5+A*- C by GCSE only 49.9 
			 Percentage of pupils needing GNVQs to achieve 5+ A*-C 3.0

Sixth-form Education

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to close the funding gap between schools and colleges for the provision of sixth-form education.

Kim Howells: Government have already taken action to narrow the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. In 2004/05, funding rates for colleges meeting their targets increased by 5 per cent., while those for school sixth forms rose by 4 per cent. We expect to see this trend continue in the 2005/06 academic year.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98.

Charles Clarke: My Department is responsible for encouraging and supporting learning and development throughout England. It has set itself the objective of becoming an exemplar learning organisation and is committed to providing access to training for its staff and to developing them to their full potential. To this end it has established leading edge e-learning facilities and continues to develop this and other learning solutions for its staff.
	Most provision is now delivered by external Strategic Partners. Learning events are available on all four sites in Sheffield, London, Darlington and Runcorn. They include the following programmes:
	Management and Leadership
	Introduction to Leadership
	Management and Improving Performance
	Communicating Policy
	Contract Management
	Programme and Project Management
	Skills for Life
	Finance and Resource Management
	Language Training
	We are unable to provide all of the information requested as retained records go back only to 2002. Details after this period are provided as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002/03 2.179 
			 2003/04 2.429 
		
	
	These figures cover most of the formal aspects of learning and development funded by the Department from centrally-held budgets. They do not include, for example, such areas as coaching by line managers, interchange or secondment. They also do not include training identified and paid for from other devolved budgets, for example towards degree courses.

Veterinary Medicine

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate places were (a) available for and (b) filled by students wishing to study veterinary medicine in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: holding answer 30 November 2004
	For English HEIs veterinary science numbers are not subject to any quota. The number of places available is determined independently by each institution from within their block grant.
	The available information on numbers of students studying veterinary science has been taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record and is given as follows.
	
		All domiciled undergraduate entrants on veterinary sciencecourses at UK HEIs
		
			 Academic year Total undergraduates 
		
		
			 1994/95 540 
			 1995/96 580 
			 1996/97 590 
			 1997/98 690 
			 1998/99 730 
			 1999/2000 750 
			 2000/01 790 
			 2001/02 940 
			 2002/03(3) 900 
		
	
	(3) For the academic year 2002/03 HESA uses a different method of allocating students to subject groups and so figures are not comparable to earlier years.
	Note:
	Figures are a snapshot as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Civil Service

Louise Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of Civil Service jobs which will be dispersed to Liverpool; what the nature of the jobs will be; and what the timescale is.

John Healey: As announced in Spending Review 2004, the Government is committed to relocating over 20,000 public sector posts out of London and the South East by 2010. It is not possible to say at this stage how many Civil Service jobs will be relocated to Liverpool. Departments are currently working through detailed implementation planning in consultation with stakeholders including unions, staff and local stakeholders. Only a small proportion of location choices have so far been determined. Where location choices have been decided, the numbers of new posts being created in the area have not been finalised.
	We are monitoring the progress of the relocation programme closely.
	As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his PBR speech, the Department of Work and Pensions and Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have reported that some posts have been relocated to Liverpool.

International Finance Facility

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which G7 countries support the International Finance Facility;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretariat for the Commission for Africa regarding the International Finance Facility;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the (a) World Bank and (b) African Development Bank on the International Finance Facility;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with (a) UN agencies and (b) non-governmental organisations regarding the International Finance Facility.

Stephen Timms: The UK is building a broad coalition of support for the International Finance Facility (IFF) in preparation for the UK presidencies of the G7/8 and EU in 2005. As part of this process, the IFF has been widely discussed within the G8 group of leading industrialized nations, the European Union, the United Nations, the G20 group of leading and emerging economies, the Commonwealth, at international meetings of the IMF and World Bank, with emerging market and developing countries, and with international organizations such as the UNDP, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the WHO and NEPAD.
	40 countries—including France and, last week, Italy—have given their support to the IFF. We have also received the support of a wide range of non-governmental organizations, faith groups and the business community.
	Discussions at the recent annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF increased support for the IFF, which was affirmed in the World Bank's final paper on Aid Effectiveness and Financing Modalities to be both technically feasible and the most advanced proposal for frontloading aid.

Northern Ireland Statistics

David Trimble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the levels of (a) gross domestic product per head expressed as a percentage of the UK average and (b) average weekly earnings are in Northern Ireland.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Colin Mowl to Mr. David Trimble, dated 7 December 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about (a) GDP per head in Northern Ireland expressed as a percentage of UK and (b) average weekly earnings in Northern Ireland. I am replying in his absence. (202865).
	The estimates in table A are based on the regional Gross Value Added1 (GVA) estimates published in April 2004. These are available on the National Statistics website at
	http ://www. statistics. gov.uk/StatBase/Product. asp? vlnk=7359
	GVA figures for 2003 are not yet available, the latest published information is for 2002 and can be seen in table A.
	
		Table A
		
			 Northern Ireland GVA(4) per head as a percentage of UK GVA per head 2002 
			 Region GVA per head 2002 (£) Percentage of UK GVA per head 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland 12,081 79.2 
			 United Kingdom less Extra Regio(5) 15.259 — 
		
	
	(4) Information presented here is Gross Value Added (GVA) which is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) less taxes (plus subsidies) on products.
	(5) Extra Regio is that part of the UK's economic territory which cannot be allocated to any specific region.
	Data Source:
	Office for National Statistics: Regional GVA (Published April 2004)
	Average earnings figures for 2004 are presented in table B
	
		Table B
		
			 Northern Ireland Average Earnings 2004(6) 
			 Mean weekly earnings in Northern Ireland (£) Median weekly earnings in Northern Ireland (£) 
		
		
			 372.3 43.4 
		
	
	(6) Average gross weekly earnings for adult full time employees whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	(7) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings uses the median as its preferred measure of average earnings, however both median and mean measures are supplied as either may be suited to users' needs.
	Data Source:
	Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2004(8)

Tax Credits (Overpayment)

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of overpayment for child and working tax credit there have been in (a) Bassetlaw and (b) England in 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W.

Working Tax Credit

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of families have been overpaid working tax credit due to incorrect assessment by the Inland Revenue in each of the last two years.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Northavon (Mr. Webb) and Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 15 November 2004, Official Report, columns 946–48W.

Antisocial Behaviour

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been set aside for costs resulting from antisocial behaviour orders in the Province.

John Spellar: The Anti-social Behaviour Order (Northern Ireland) 2004 was made on 27 July 2004 and allows the three designated partners ie, the Police, Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a district council to apply for an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) to be made in respect of anyone aged 10 or over where the person has acted in a manner that has caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one of more persons not of the same household as himself; and that such an Order is necessary to protect relevant persons from further anti-social acts by that individual. Implementation guidelines are currently being drawn up by the Criminal Justice Directorate and the designated agencies.
	In relation to funding for antisocial behaviour orders, it has been agreed that the costs of applying for an Order would be borne by the agency making the application within the first 12–18 months of the process and until such times as the true resource implications can be established. Evidence has shown that the costs of applying for an Order in England and Wales has reduced considerably as experience of the system has been gained.

Planning

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the financial effects on (a) business and (b) UK competitiveness of delays in processing planning appeals and planning inquiries.

Keith Hill: The Government recognises that delays in planning decisions add to costs for all parties. It is committed to addressing the delays in processing planning appeals which have resulted from the sharp rise in the numbers of appeals received over the last two years. There has been no detailed estimate made of the economic cost caused by such delays.

Combined Heat and Power

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support her Department is making available to encourage micro combined heat and power generation.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 November 2004
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Department sponsors the Carbon Trust, who are conducting field trials of micro-CHP units to better understand their potential energy and carbon savings. Our proposal for the Energy Efficiency Commitment 2005–08 includes an incentive for innovative technologies, such as micro-CHP with a electrical capacity of up to 50 kilowatts. This year the Chancellor announced the possibility of widening the Budget 2002 VAT reduction on some micro-CHP installations. Government are also formulating a strategy for microgeneration, with input from Defra.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much cover was made by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to (a) Nepal, (b) Zimbabwe, (c) Nigeria, (d) Rwanda, (e) Sierra Leone, (f) South Africa, (g) Pakistan, (h) Mozambique, (i) Zambia, (j) China, (k) Ethiopia, (l) Kenya, (m) Malawi, (n) Uganda, (o) Ghana, (p) Bangladesh, (q) India and (r) Tanzania in the last two years for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: The following table shows the value of issued guarantees on these specified markets at current exchange rates, during the last two full financial years. (Zero values shown where applicable):
	
		
			   £ 
			 Market 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Bangladesh 8,410,073 6,237,569 
			 China 31,074,304 13,468,853 
			 Ghana 0 0 
			 Ethiopia 0 0 
			 India 76,970,096 67,497,505 
			 Kenya 0 0 
			 Malawi 0 0 
			 Mozambique 0 0 
			 Nepal 0 0 
			 Nigeria 138,823,252 0 
			 Pakistan 0 0 
			 Rwanda 0 0 
			 Sierra Leone 0 0 
			 South Africa 82,693,692 139,882,828 
			 Tanzania United Republic of 0 2,129,291 
			 Uganda 0 0 
			 Zambia 0 0 
			 Zimbabwe 202,500 202,500 
			 Total 338,173,917 229,418,546

Fur Imports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the amount of cat and dog fur being imported into (a) the UK and (b) other EU states; if she will make it her policy to ban such imports into the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Establishing whether domestic cat or dog fur is entering the UK is difficult because any such fur entering the UK and other EU states would fall under the commodity codes for "other fur" which includes rabbit, musk-rat and beaver. It is not possible to identify what proportion of the "other fur" figure, if any, represents domestic dog or cat fur. Figures for fur imports into the UK were given in my answer to my hon. Friend's question on 13 July 2004, Official Report, columns 1020–24W.
	The Government is committed to establishing the facts about this issue and to taking practical and proportionate action in response. The Government invited interested stakeholders to come forward with evidence that domestic dog and cat fur is on sale in the UK. No hard evidence has been provided to us. The Government therefore cannot support an import ban at this time.
	A full update will be made in a written statement in the new year, "other fur".

Fur Imports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the accuracy of scientific testing to determine whether products contain (a) cat and (b) dog fur; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The DTI has been working with the Laboratory of Government Chemist Limited (LGC) to establish a scientific test which can readily determine between different species of fur. As reported by the then Minister for Trade and Investment (the hon. Member for East Ham) in a written statement to the House on 28 January 2004, Official Report, columns 11–12WS. The first test trialled was unsatisfactory because industrial processing of fur tends to destroy its DNA. LGC Limited went on to test a technology which requires less DNA. Initial tests were disappointing but suggested that this method should not be discounted. During the course of this year, we understand the methodology has been refined and I have commissioned work to test the method again to establish whether its reliability has improved. I will report on the results of these tests in a written statement to the House in the new year.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the aggregate cost to business of regulations imposed by her Department since 1997, based on figures in the relevant regulatory impact assessments.

Nigel Griffiths: holding answer 6 December 2004
	All proposals which impact on business, charities or the voluntary sector require a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which includes details of the costs, benefits and risks of the proposal. RIAs are subject to public consultation and copies of final RIAs are available from the Libraries of the House and on departmental websites

Religious Festivals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will bring forward proposals to mark the important festivals of minority communities, with particular reference to Eid and Divali, with (a) public holidays and (b) other official recognition.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government receives a variety of suggestions for new or different bank holidays and celebrations. Bank and public holidays in Great Britain do not, by tradition, commemorate particular individuals, events, or institutions, other than those associated with Christmas and Easter. The present pattern of bank holidays in the United Kingdom is well established and accepted, and the Government have no current plans to change the arrangements. Although the Government do not get involved in contractual matters between employers and employees with regards to taking time off, our policy is to encourage employers to respond flexibly to such requests for leave bearing in mind business needs.
	In addition, the Government already marks religious festivals from a variety of minority faiths in different ways and will continue to do so in the future. Ministers and senior officials attend receptions and events where possible and also send messages of good will and celebratory cards in some instances.

Renewable Energy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money the UK Government have spent on (a) solar and (b) wind-powered forms of renewable energy since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 December 2004
	The Government have committed £117 million in capital grant support for Round 1 offshore wind projects. To date £7.5 million of this has been spent.
	For solar, £31 million has been committed to the Major PV demonstration programme, which runs to March 2006. To date £18.8 million has been confirmed for projects and £3.3 million of this has been spent.
	In addition the following has been spent on research on wind and solar technologies.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Solar Wind 
		
		
			 2000–01 1.7 1.3 
			 2001–02 2 1.7 
			 2002–03 5.3 1.7

Renewable Energy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking in respect of charges for connecting major wind farm projects to the national grid; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 December 2004
	The Energy Act 2004 laid the foundation for the creation of a single GB market for wholesale electricity trading and transmission. Charges to connect to and use the GB transmission system, and therefore access the GB market, are still being developed by National Grid. Ofgem considered NGC's proposals last month, and concluded that further work was required in respect of use of system charges. It did, however, approve National Grid's proposed connection charges, i.e. the charges that relate to the specific assets provided at each site to connect to the network.
	NGC's proposal for the use of system charges will be revised and resubmitted to Ofgem for approval in February 2005. The transmission charging methodology is planned to take effect when BETTA is implemented.
	Ofgem also recently announced that, following approval of a use of system charging methodology, it is minded to implement a discount against transmission charges of approximately £4 per kilowatt for smaller generators connected to the transmission system at 132KV. This is expected to encompass a number of larger wind-farm developments, particularly in the north of Scotland.
	Further, the Government took a legislative power in the Energy Act 2004 to allow the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to introduce a dispensation regime in order to limit the transmission charges to renewable generators in a specified area of Great Britain, if the transmission charges would otherwise materially hinder renewable development in that area. DTI recently commissioned an independent study to examine the likely impact of GB transmission charges on renewable development, in particular Scotland.
	The establishment of the GB market will also remove charges for using the Anglo-Scottish interconnector currently paid by Scottish generators including windfarms, exporting to England and Wales, It will also give Scottish generators including renewables access to the GB market as a whole rather than their development being constrained by the limited size of the electricity market in Scotland.

Small Business Research Initiative

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many research and development procurement opportunities were disseminated by her Department to small and medium-sized enterprises registered through the Small Business Research Initiative web portal in each year since 2001–02, including figures for 2004–05 to date; and what the value of such opportunities was in each case.

Nigel Griffiths: Since 2001–02 the Small Business Research Initiative web portal has provided information on 98 research and development procurement opportunities, with a total value of £5,720,030. Information for each year is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of proposals Value (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 10 367,000 
			 2002–03 41 2,404,000 
			 2003–04 33 1,999,030 
			 2004–05 14 950,000

Arms Embargo (China)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK Government supports the lifting of the arms embargo on China; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government supports the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is ongoing—it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the 22 November General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Government do not wish to exclude any options for the review, nor to pre-empt the conclusion of the review.
	The Government continues to implement the Arms Embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–41, to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedley (Vernon Coaker).

Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the Visa Correspondence Section of UKvisas to respond to the correspondence by email of 15 November and 16 November from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West regarding Mr. Muhammad Tariq.

Chris Mullin: UKvisas replied to the hon. Member on 26 November.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on the clearing of minefields in the UN buffer zone in Cyprus; whether this action is supported by the British Government; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We welcome the decision of the Government of Cyprus in June 2004 to work with the United Nations to start mine clearance in the buffer zone. The de-mining program has the support of member states of the European Union and the European Commission and is funded by the European Union through its 'Partnership for the Future' programme at an estimated cost of €2.5 million. Work began on 18 November, conducted by two British companies, and is estimated to last for just over a year.
	We also welcome a statement made by Mr. Talat, elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community, on 18 November in which he said that the Turkish Cypriots would soon sign an agreement with the United Nations which would allow them also to begin mine clearing operations.
	The UK government welcome any contribution to normalisation of the situation on the island. De-mining is an important step towards this.

Darfur

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the supply of logistical and communications support to the African Union monitoring force in Darfur; and whether equipment supplied to the monitoring force as part of that support has been accompanied by instructions comprehensible to the troops comprising that force.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply 
	to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness.
	The UK is in the process of flying out 143 vehicles it has purchased for the African Union (AU) monitoring mission headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur. The vehicles (131 Toyota 4/4 Landcruisers and 12 three tonne trucks), have been purchased following the Prime Minister's announcement of a further £12 million of support for the African Union (AU) monitoring mission on 7 October 2004. Almost half of these vehicles are already on the ground, and the full number is expected to arrive by mid-December. They are fully fitted with the equipment requested by the AU, including communications equipment. All instruction manuals for this equipment are in English.
	These vehicles will make the AU mission more effective, enabling the observers and troops to carry out more proactive monitoring, and to respond to specific incidents more quickly. This is part of DFID's ongoing support to the AU's efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur: DFID has now committed more than £14 million to their operation, from the joint DFID-FCO-MOD Africa Conflict Prevention Pool. We continue to work closely with the AU to ensure that they have all the support they require.
	DFID understands that there have been problems with communications equipment for the land bases which operates in German. This has caused problems for the AU but is being resolved by the donor who provided it.

General Affairs and External Relations Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 22 and 23 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The answer is as follows:
	Outcome of the 22/23 November 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council
	My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary and the International Development Secretary, John Grant (UK's Permanent Representative to the EU) and I represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on 22 and 23 November.
	Conclusions were agreed on: Africa—Peace and security action plan, ESDP, Middle East Peace Process, Iran, Belarus, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Somalia, and Great Lakes General Affairs Session
	Preparation for the 17 December European Council
	The Council examined an annotated draft agenda prepared by the Presidency for the European Council meeting to be held in Brussels on 16 and 17 December. It will prepare the meeting in greater detail at the GAERC on 13 and 14 December. The main agenda items are: EU enlargement, Terrorism, EU financial framework for 2007–13, EU area of freedom, security and justice, and external affairs (expected to include Middle East Peace Process. Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan and the EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East). The Government are largely content with the current agenda, but will discuss in greater depth at the 13 December GAERC.
	Financial Framework For 2007–13 (Including External Actions)
	The Council took note of a progress report on preparation of the EU's financial framework for the 2007–13 period and held a policy debate on the Commission's proposals as regards financing of the EU's external actions policies. The Presidency noted that most delegations agreed with the proposal to simplify the structure of the EU budget. Many delegations considered that the proposed new financing instruments for external relations would allow the Council adequate political control, although a number highlighted conditions to be respected and emphasised the role to be played by the member states. The Government emphasised the need for a budget structure which enabled the EU to meet its priorities flexibly. The Presidency's aim is for the European Council in December to define the principles and guidelines for further work on the new financial framework with the aim of achieving political agreement next year.
	The Government have argued that the Commission's proposal for real terms spending increases of 35 per cent. from 2007 to 2013 are unrealistic and unacceptable. We believe that the priorities of an enlarged Union can be met within a budget of 1 per cent. EU GNI. We have therefore argued for a robust assessment of the value added of EU spending in order to ensure that EU spending is focussed and effective.
	External Relations Session
	ESDP
	Defence Ministers approved the six-monthly Single Progress Report on capability development and their declaration on development of military capabilities. In particular, this declaration included commitments from member states to hold battlegroups at very high readiness from 2005. The GAERC also approved the 2005 budget and work programme of the European Defence Agency, and Defence Ministers (meeting in Agency Steering Board format) also agreed conclusions on the European Commission's Green Paper on defence procurement. The GAERC also agreed to launch the EU operation in Bosnia (EUFOR) on 2 December.
	Improving European defence capability is one the Government's key aims for ESDP, and the Government have played a major role in the capability development commitments which the Council approved, in particular the battlegroups concept. The UK has offered one national battlegroup and one joint battlegroup with the Netherlands to the EU's co-ordinated pool of battlegroups for full operational capability from 2007. Together with France, the UK will provide the EU's initial operational capability in the first half of 2005. The Government supports the agreed European Defence Agency work programme, and the UK is providing the EU Force Commander in Bosnia for the first year.
	Middle East Peace Process
	Foreign Ministers discussed the Middle East Peace Process over lunch. The Council expressed its condolences to the Palestinian people on the occasion of President Arafat's death and commended the approach of the current leadership in organising a smooth transition. The Council reiterated its commitment to pursue the short-term programme of action proposed by High Representative Solana to the European Council and concluded that immediate action is required to support the presidential elections, to improve the security situation and to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority. The Foreign Secretary agreed with this approach and highlighted that the EU had an opportunity to play a stronger role. He briefed the Council on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's positive discussion with President Bush in Washington.
	Iran
	Foreign Ministers also discussed Iran over lunch. They welcomed the agreement on nuclear issues and future cooperation following talks with France, Germany and the UK (E3) supported by the High Representative. The Council welcomed Iran's decision to suspend fully all enrichment related and reprocessing activities, and to sustain this suspension while negotiations are underway on an agreement on long-term arrangements. It expected Iran to take the steps necessary to enable the IAEA to report on 25 November that full suspension was in place. The Council confirmed the EU's readiness to explore ways to develop political and economic co-operation with Iran. It recalled the conclusions of the European Council on 5 November that negotiations on a Trade and Co-operation Agreement would resume as soon as suspension was verified. As part of the E3, the Government played a major part in negotiating Iran's decision to suspend fully all enrichment related and reprocessing activities.
	Eu-China Relations
	Over lunch Ministers addressed EU-China relations, in preparation for the EU-China Summit on 8 December 2004. A large number of subjects will be discussed at the summit with a view to raising the relationship between the EU and China to a higher level. More specifically, with regard to the arms embargo, the Presidency confirmed, following the discussion, that the EU was ready to give a positive signal to China. However, at the same time a number of concerns must be addressed, including in the field of human rights, and work must continue on strengthening the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports.
	The Government supports the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU Arms Embargo on China. This review is ongoing—it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the 11 October GAERC. The Government does not wish to exclude any options for the review, nor to pre-empt the conclusion of the review. The Government continues to implement the Arms Embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedley (Vernon Coaker) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–41.
	Ukraine
	There was widespread concern within the Council over the Ukrainian electoral process, as well as at the likely outcome. The Council considered next steps and they issued a Presidency statement calling on the Ukrainian authorities to review together with OSCE/ODIHR the electoral process and results.
	Subsequent to the GAERC the Foreign Secretary made a statement on 23 November urging the Ukrainian authorities to cooperate with the OSCE to ensure that all proper procedures, including legal challenges to the results, are fully followed before declaring a final result. A copy of the Statement is available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. The Ukrainian authorities should investigate all allegations of fraud to ensure that the result reflects the democratic will of the Ukrainian people. We will closely monitor the situation with our EU partners.
	Belarus
	The Council called upon President Lukashenko and his government to reverse their present policies and to embark on fundamental democratic and economic reforms. The Council noted with concern that the 17 October 2004 parliamentary elections and referendum in Belarus were not conducted in a free and fair manner. The Council strongly condemned the attacks on peaceful demonstrators, individual opposition leaders and journalists that took place after 17 October. The Council agreed to continue to follow developments in Belarus closely and will take further action as appropriate. The Government supports this approach.
	Athena Financing Mechanism
	The Council examined if the ATHENA mechanism for the financing of the common costs of EU-led military operations could better meet the needs of EU Rapid Response, in terms of transportation of the forces and early provision of funds to ATHENA. It came to no agreement and tasked the relevant Council bodies, in relation with the EU Military Staff and the ATHENA administrator, to continue reflecting on the most appropriate ways and means to finance EU Rapid Response.
	The Government believes the the costs of deployment should normally fall to member states and should not automatically be financed in common. It is important to maintain incentives on member states to improve their capabilities in this area and to find the most effective means of deploying their forces. The Government's position received considerable support from the other partners. The Government are able to provide funds rapidly to the ATHENA mechanism when required, and therefore does not intend to participate in a common fund for this purpose.
	Cote D'Ivoire
	The French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, briefed on recent events. Almost all French nationals had now departed. The Dutch Foreign Minister Bot, speaking as the Presidency, informed Foreign Ministers that South African President Mbeki had debriefed him on his recent discussions with the key figures in the Cote d'Ivoire crisis. The Government shares the international community's condemnation of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire's breach of the cease-fire and the ensuing attacks on foreign residents. The Government continues to believe that there can be no military solution to the conflict and supports the UN and AU in their efforts to find a political settlement.
	Great Lakes
	The Council welcomed the outcome of the First Summit for Heads of State of the AU-UN International Conference for peace and security in the Great Lakes region. The Council stressed the importance of this process leading to a final outcome that will lead to lasting peace and stability, good governance, democracy and respect for human rights, socio-economic development and regional integration. The Council re-iterated the willingness of the EU to continue its support, through the Group of Friends of the Conference, to the preparatory process for the second summit to ensure its successful outcome. The Government will do what it can to assist this process and is planning to contribute US$1 million to the Conference.
	Sudan
	The Council welcomed the urgently needed deployment of the military elements of the expanded African Union (AU) force in Darfur (AMIS II) and the leading role of the AU. It will consider, in close discussion with the AU, possible support for the implementation of the policing elements of AMIS II. The Council welcomed the progress achieved at the peace talks in Abuja and noted that there is urgent need for additional humanitarian assistance. The EU has already provided more that €325 million from bilateral and Community funds for 2004 but substantial additional amounts need to be raised. The EU will consider increasing its humanitarian support, while encouraging other donors to provide additional support for humanitarian operations.
	The Government welcomes the unanimous UN Security Council Resolution 1574. There is an urgent need for progress in resolving the Dafur crisis and to maintain the pressure on both sides (Government of Sudan and rebels) to abide by the commitments they have given. The Government welcomes the AU's efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur both through the peace talks in Abuja and through its monitoring mission on the ground. The Government will continue to press the EU to consider actively what it can do to assist and reinforce the AU's efforts.
	Somalia
	The Council reviewed recent developments in Somalia, in particular the establishment of the Transitional Parliament, the election of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as President and the appointment of Ali Mohamed Ghedi as Prime Minster. The Council would welcome the early establishment of a broad-based government in Somalia. The Council reiterated its support for the efforts of all parties seeking peace and reconciliation in Somalia and stands ready to work with the United Nations and all relevant international organisations in supporting the peace and reconciliation process and the transition to a federal state. The Government feels it is important that the international community actively support the framework for a UN led dialogue with the Transitional Federal Government.
	AOB—Guinea Bissau
	Portuguese Foreign Minister Monterio gave an update on the mission of the Lusophone Community which had the objective of promoting dialogue between the government and the military and whose conclusions would focus on security sector reform. Further funding was requested. The Government currently provides multilateral support through the UN, EU and International Financial Institutions. It supports the initiative for the Lusophone Community to send a small mission to promote dialogue between the military and political communities in Guinea-Bissau.
	Development Agenda—23 November 2004
	2005 Millennium Development Goals Stocktake
	Conclusions were adopted which outlined a collective EU approach to the 2005 Millennium Summit's stocktake on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), via a joint EU report focused on aid resources and new financing mechanisms, coherence of aid and other polices, plus a new initiative on Africa. The Government stressed that the Summit must acknowledge that progress in meeting the MDGs was much too slow, and that changes in policies were needed. The key issues were to increase aid resources; debt relief, where the UK hoped others would follow our initiative to pay off the outstanding debts of the poorest countries for the IFIs; innovative financing mechanisms; and improving trade opportunities for developing countries.
	Follow up to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)
	Member states adopted two sets of Conclusions giving the Commission a renewed mandate to pursue its policy on these issues. The EU has played a prominent role in the ICPD context from the start and its policy and approaches are now fully aligned with the Cairo (ICPD) agenda. But more funding was needed to implement the Cairo action plan. Also, poverty diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, remain a major cause of death as indicated by shocking new figures recently revealed by UNAIDS. The Government are particularly pleased to see the links that the Conclusions make between Sexual and Reproductive Health HIV. HIV and AIDS will be a priority during the UK Presidency of the EU and G8 next year.
	Monterrey Follow Up
	Conclusions and the Action Plan on harmonisation were agreed. The Action Plan was drawn up by a special working party of member states' experts and will be submitted to the Second OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) High Level Forum on Harmonisation and Alignment for Aid Effectiveness in Paris 2005. The government welcomed the Action Plan. It sets out minimum standards for member states and the Commission when working with one another and partner countries. But the Government considers that the EU should still strive to do more and learn from successes such as in Mozambique and Vietnam, and initiatives in conflict countries such as Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
	Annual Report 2004 on EC Development Policy and External Assistance
	This is one of the principle tools available to assess EC's external actions programmes. The Government welcomes this report as a marked improvement on previous years. However, it is still not the strategic management tool we would like it to be. It should be more analytical and focus on progress against strategic objectives, such as global poverty reduction, the MDGs and EC's Development Policy Conclusions, reflecting the UK's concerns, were agreed.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the UN peace-keeping mission in Haiti reaches its full complement of 6,000 troops as soon as possible.

Bill Rammell: The Government works to support an effective UN mission in Haiti and continues to take an active part in Security Council discussions on Haiti to ensure deployment of sufficient personnel and the best use of resources. There has been considerable progress since the establishment of the mission—particularly with recent troop deployments I refer my hon. Friend to the UN Secretary-General Report S2004/908 of 18 November, available on the UN website: www.un.org. There are currently 4,732 total uniformed personnel serving in the UN Mission in Haiti, including 3,769 troops and 963 civilian police, supported by 258 international civilian personnel and about 300 local civilian staff
	The Government places great importance on ensuring the placement of qualified and trained personnel in the UN Mission in Haiti. In September 2004, representatives of the Metropolitan Police Service provided training assistance to policemen from the Chinese Republic for their deployment in Haiti. The trainers focussed specifically on understanding and practical application of the Rules of Engagement to ensure that the Chinese contingent would have the requisite skills for effective work on the ground. Ninety-five Chinese riot police were deployed on 17 October, representing their first ever police deployment abroad.
	The UK also works to support deployment of trained personnel to all UN missions. We currently have 447 military personnel and 115 civilian police officers deployed to UN operations. In addition we support capacity building of the UN through the Government's WUN Strategy*, an £8 million programme under the joint DFID/MOD/FCO Global Conflict Prevention Pool to enable the UK to run training courses to develop the skills of trainers and to support specific training exercises for countries that provide or are seeking to provide peacekeepers for UN missions.

Haiti

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made in the UN to ensure that disarmament in Haiti takes place effectively and involves all communities.

Bill Rammell: The Government place great importance on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDK) in all peace support operations. We worked to ensure that the mandate establishing the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) focused on DDK. Resolution 1542 (30 April 2004) tasked MINUSTAH to 'assist the Transitional Government, particularly the Haitian National Police with comprehensive and sustainable DDR programmes for all armed groups, including women and children associated with such groups, as well as weapons control and public security measures.'
	This emphasis on DDR continues to be crucial. The Government are currently involved in consultations concerning the recent UN Secretary-General's report S/2004/908 of 18 November, available on the UN website: www.un.org and the mandate renewal for MINUSTAH. In these discussions, we continue to emphasise the importance of effective DDR, including the urgency of establishing a National Commission.
	The Government also supports UN capacity building on DDR. This year the Government are providing over £150,000 for a project which aims to develop a comprehensive set of common and integrated policies, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures, as well as Headquarter and field planning mechanisms and tools for the planning and conduct of DDR in a peacekeeping context.

Namibia

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the land reform policy in Namibia; what recent discussions the Government has had with (a) the Namibian Government and (b) white farmers' groups regarding land reform; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: We support the need for land reform in Namibia, but any programme must be transparent, equitable and within the rule of law. Our High Commissioner in Windhoek discusses the issue regularly with the Namibian Government, the Namibian Agricultural Union and other interested parties.

Palestinian Elections

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom is giving to the Palestinian authority for the elections scheduled for 9 January 2005.

Bill Rammell: During his visit to the region last month my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary offered full UK support to the Palestinian authority for the presidential elections in January. He also pressed the Israeli Government to do all it can to facilitate the Palestinian electoral process, including freedom of movement and allowing East Jerusalem voters to vote. Israel gave assurances it would co-operate.
	We are supporting the Palestinian authority financially, both bilaterally and through the European Union. We are also supporting the elections in practical ways, for example, liaising with organisers of the EU electoral observation mission on sending out British election observers, and encouraging an Organisation for Security and Co- operation in Europe electoral observation mission.

Salt

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on levels of dietary salt intake.

Melanie Johnson: The Government is committed, through the NHS Plan and the recently published White Paper Choosing Health: "Making healthy choices easier", to reducing population average intakes of salt in order to reduce the burden of cardio-vascular disease. The Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency are working with the food industry and others to reduce the salt content of processed foods to reduce population average intakes to 6g per day by 2010.

Greater Manchester Surgical Unit

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between the relevant strategic health authority and the Department of Health about the Greater Manchester surgical unit.

Miss Johnson: Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has developed the Greater Manchester Surgical Unit in close cooperation with and under the guidance of the Department of Health.
	Assessment of local delivery options is for the SHA to make as part of its capacity planning and local delivery planning responsibilities. All SHAs have recently submitted their capacity planning returns, which are currently the subject of discussions between DH and the SHAs.

LIFT Programme

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the NHS local improvement finance trust programme.

John Reid: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friends, the Member for Bedford (Mr. Patrick Hall) and the Member for Ilford North (Ms. Linda Perham) earlier today.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of (a) adults and (b) children were registered with a NHS dentist in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Table 1 shows the percentages of adults and children registered with a general dental service (GDS) dentist in England at 30 September in each of the years 1997 to 2004. Table 2 shows the rates for each strategic health authority (SHA). Information showing a breakdown by primary care trust (PCT) has been placed in the Library.
	The changes in the registration periods from 1 September 1996 affected the registration numbers from December 1997 onwards, so the 1997 figures are not comparable with the later figures. The registration figures for the later years are affected by dentists switching from the general dentist service to the personal dentist service. Patients may access national health service dental services without being registered.
	The population figures for England and the SHAs were issued on 7 October. For the year 2004, population figures for 2003 have been used. Population figures by PCT are available only for the years 2001 and 2002. The 2001 figures have been used to calculate the registration rates for the years to 2001. The 2001 figures have been used to calculate the registration rates for the years 2002–04.
	
		Table 1: Registrations with a GDS at 30 September in the years 1997 to 2004 -- Percentage
		
			  Adults Children 
		
		
			 1987 51.8 65.7 
			 1998 44.5 60.5 
			 1999 44.0 60.8 
			 2000 44.2 61.2 
			 2001 43.8 60.9 
			 2002 43.4 60.6 
			 2003 42.9 60.2 
			 2004 38.8 54.6 
		
	
	
		Table 2
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
			 Strategic health authority Adults Children Adults Children Adults Children Adults Children 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 46.9 71.6 39.6 67.2 39.6 68.5 39.2 68.9 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 51.6 64.5 43.1 59.9 43.8 60.4 44.0 61.0 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 54.1 56.5 46.7 52.1 47.0 52.4 47.0 52.3 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 59.2 70.2 50.0 63.0 50.1 63.4 49.8 62.4 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 59.0 70.1 52.1 64.3 52.0 64.1 52.9 65.2 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 52.1 66.6 46.1 62.2 46.8 62.8 47.0 62.6 
			 Dorset and Somerset 55.6 76.4 49.0 71.3 48.3 71.1 49.1 72.4 
			 Essex 48.7 63.4 42.6 59.7 43.8 61.8 45.0 62.6 
			 Greater Manchester 60.7 72.0 52.5 65.6 52.2 65.7 52.2 65.6 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 51.1 65.5 43.9 61.7 42.3 61.5 41.9 62.4 
			 Kent and Medway 41.3 64.8 36.6 60.7 36.6 61.0 36.9 61.2 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 53.8 64.2 46.0 57.8 46.9 60.2 45.9 59.7 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 52.0 67.7 46.2 63.1 46.6 63.3 46.9 63.7 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 51.5 69.3 46.2 64.5 46.3 65.3 46.9 66.1 
			 North Central London 50.5 55.7 40.4 49.5 39.2 49.8 39.4 50.7 
			 North East London 47.8 49.1 37.4 42.8 36.4 43.2 36.6 44.0 
			 North West London 52.6 56.9 41.9 50.6 40.2 50.2 39.9 50.9 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 56.3 68.0 49.0 62.5 49.6 64.1 50.2 65.0 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 46.0 69.4 39.3 64.1 39.0 64.5 38.8 64.1 
			 South East London 47.6 56.8 38.7 51.2 36.2 49.7 35.9 49.9 
			 South West London 46.7 61.6 37.4 54.8 36.0 54.1 36.5 55.2 
			 South West Peninsula 50.3 71.1 42.3 65.6 41.6 67.1 42.7 67.8 
			 South Yorkshire 59.3 71.1 53.6 65.4 52.5 65.4 53.7 66.8 
			 Surrey and Sussex 48.9 71.0 41.9 66.0 40.6 65.3 40.4 65.7 
			 Thames Valley 37.4 65.1 31.3 60.2 31.2 60.5 31.5 61.2 
			 Trent 53.4 65.5 48.5 61.0 47.9 61.7 48.8 62.7 
			 West Midland South 53.2 67.2 45.2 61.7 43.5 62.8 42.8 61.7 
			 West Yorkshire 58.7 64.9 52.2 60.1 51.1 60.0 51.2 61.0 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
			 Strategic health authority Adults Children Adults Children Adults Children Adults Children 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 38.7 68.3 37.5 66.9 37.4 66.7 36.0 63.9 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 43.4 60.8 44.0 61.5 43.4 61.1 42.4 59.3 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 46.7 52.4 47.0 52.8 47.2 53.1 48.1 53.4 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 50.2 62.3 50.2 62.2 49.7 61.9 26.7 33.3 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 53.0 64.8 53.1 64.6 53.0 64.4 53.0 62.8 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 45.9 61.8 45.3 61.0 44.5 59.9 35.7 50.6 
			 Dorset and Somerset 47.4 70.2 48.2 71.0 46.9 69.2 44.8 66.8 
			 Essex 44.3 60.4 44.3 60.3 43.6 59.1 44.0 58.8 
			 Greater Manchester 51.3 64.6 50.2 63.5 48.9 62.3 37.6 48.2 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 41.3 62.0 40.0 61.9 37.5 61.3 32.4 54.8 
			 Kent and Medway 37.8 61.6 37.1 61.5 36.1 60.2 36.4 60.0 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 46.9 60.4 46.1 60.7 46.2 60.8 48.3 62.4 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 47.4 64.0 47.5 63.6 46.6 62.8 46.8 61.9 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 47.0 66.3 46.1 64.9 45.2 63.7 38.3 54.8 
			 North Central London 38.9 50.7 38.1 50.2 37.9 50.7 36.9 49.8 
			 North East London 35.8 44.1 35.7 44.3 35.8 45.1 36.1 45.0 
			 North West London 38.8 51.6 38.4 51.2 38.7 51.0 34.4 45.1 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 50.4 65.0 50.3 64.4 51.1 64.8 50.6 60.8 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 38.2 62.9 38.0 62.5 37.0 61.8 34.7 57.8 
			 South East London 35.5 50.1 36.0 51.8 36.0 52.4 35.9 52.5 
			 South West London 35.5 53.5 33.9 54.1 34.4 54.9 32.6 52.8 
			 South West Peninsula 43.4 67.6 42.8 65.8 42.2 65.1 22.8 41.1 
			 South Yorkshire 53.6 66.1 53.7 65.5 53.6 65.4 41.0 49.4 
			 Surrey and Sussex 40.1 65.6 39.5 64.9 39.1 64.2 38.1 63.4 
			 Thames Valley 30.5 60.2 31.2 60.6 30.6 60.6 30.1 58.9 
			 Trent 48.6 61.8 48.1 61.8 47.3 61.2 46.6 58.8 
			 West Midland South 43.2 62.2 42.0 61.1 40.8 61.0 40.0 59.5 
			 West Yorkshire 50.4 60.4 49.4 59.5 49.3 59.8 42.1 51.2 
		
	
	Note:
	Combined rates for Redbridge and Waltham Forest

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people in each region with no teeth.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is for the percentage of adults with no natural teeth in 1995 and is in Table 1. Similar information for the year 2003 will be published by the Office for National Statistics on 16 December 2004.
	
		Table 1: Adults with no natural teeth by region in 1995Percentages
		
			 English region Adults with no natural teeth 
		
		
			 North 19 
			 Yorks and Humberside 21 
			 North West 17 
			 East Midlands 14 
			 West Midlands 15 
			 East Anglia 13 
			 Greater London 10 
			 Outer metropolitan area 10 
			 Outer South East 10 
			 South West 11 
			 England 14 
		
	
	Source:
	Living in Britain: Results from the 1995 general household survey table 9.11.
	Information from the adult dental health survey 1998 for three large regional groupings in England are shown in Table 2.
	
		Table 2: Adults with no natural teeth in three regionalgroupings in 1998Percentages
		
			 English region Adults with no natural teeth 
		
		
			 North 14 
			 Midlands 15 
			 South 10 
			 England 12 
		
	
	Source:
	Adult dental health survey 1998 table 2.1.7.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what creche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not provide creche facilities for its staff.
	There is an on site nursery for members of staff at the Department's Leeds office, which is provided at the rate of £24 per day and is shared with members of staff at the Department of Work and Pensions.
	For other members of staff, the Department provides childcare allowances towards the cost of nursery and out of school care. It also provides an on-site holiday playscheme subsidised at the rate of £10 per day for children of staff members who are of school age, during the holidays. The budget for the allowances and for running the playscheme last year was £20,000.

Departmental Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last two years.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's accounting system does not collect information in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the gender pay gap amongst staff in his Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department undertook an audit of the pay of staff below senior civil service level in 2003. This revealed no significant areas of concern and concluded that there was no evidence of gender bias in respect of starting salaries. The Department's managers are required to consider equal pay issues when considering both starting salary and awarding any pay flexibilities.
	The Department is currently reviewing its pay strategy and will ensure that any future strategy continues to avoid a gender bias.

Gene Therapy

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research to investigate the results of the gene therapy research referred to in the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee's open letter of 5 November, concerning the development of liver tumours in mice when treated with a lentivial vector.

Melanie Johnson: The Government has recently spent £1 million of funding to support academic research into the safety of gene therapy, which includes looking at the safety of retroviruses of which lentiviruses are a sub-type.
	There are no plans to commission additional research to investigate the results of the gene therapy research referred to in the gene therapy advisory committee's open letter of 5 November.